Samsung Galaxy S4 Battery Swelling.. Samsung are being very stubborn!

[Anonymous]

I posted a thread about this a good few months ago, and a few weeks ago I finally managed to get my S4 sent off to a repair centre as I've been travelling a lot.

Basically, I was using my S4 more so as a back up phone at this time (it's still under contract for another 4 months), when I went to take it out my drawer to use it I was shocked to see that the screen had come away a little and the home button was completely detached but more shockingly when I picked it up there was a massive bulge at the back - so I managed to take the back case off and seen that the battery had expanded and swelled. I looked it up and seen this was a known issue.

I rang O2 and they said as the battery is no longer under warrenty with O2 I'd have to contact Samsung, so I did. They sent me the packaging to send the phone back to them. I finally got an email a few days ago saying as there was 'physical damage' (the screen and home button) I'd need to pay to get it fixed, which came to just under £110. I was surprised as I made a note saying this is what I found - the battery had clearly expanded and had pushed into the phone and pushed the screen slightly off (the glue has come away) and pushed the home button off - the screen is perfectly intact, no cracks or anything.

I've been on and off the phone with Samsung but they're just not budging, basically the engineer doesn't believe the screen/home button damage was caused by the battery. 

What else can I do? I don't see why I have to pay when the reason the screen and home button are damaged is because of their faulty battery..? I'd be a mug to pay it. 

I've been referred to their complaints department, also. 

[MI5]

Where exactly is this drawer?

[Anonymous]

It's one that's attached to my dressing table in the corner of my room. 

[MI5]

Not near any strong heat source then?

[jonsie]

Your only possible way forward now is legal action though Samsung may just be swayed into replacing the phone once there is the likelyhood of you going the small claims court route. Difficult to know what else to suggest.

[Anonymous]

No, not near any heat source. I sometimes straighten my hair at the dressing table but my hair straightners sit on the side where the plug socket is, on the left, whereas the drawer my phone was in is in the middle. It's a large dressing table.

I was thinking about sending a letter of complaint but I'm not even sure that'll make a difference, Samsung just keep saying that the repair centre's decision is final and they can't re-examine the device or anything.

What can the small claims court do? I've never used them before.

[MI5]

The problem with small claims is that you would have to get (pay for) an engineers report that supported you and then you would need to pay to take on Samsung in court.
I know it's the principle of it but financially it would be suicide if you lost your claim.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, definitely not worth it then. I could have a talk with Trading Standards, see what they say/suggest.

Don't think I have any other options to be honest. But I'm not going to pay for it to be repaired, no way. The phone isn't even worth the repair cost. 

[MI5]

Sometimes you just gotta accept certain things and move on.....

[Cleoriff]

I suppose you also have to decide whether you want to be out of pocket because of a matter of principle. If you were sure any action would be cost free to you it may be worth it. Otherwise I am not convinced if honest.  How old is the S4 again?

[MI5]

Worth £70 on recycle sites in mint condition.